I’m back! I’m making the most of free time.

Here we are again with a Legendbringer Character Study of my favourite reformed Starfleet Member, Artie Bristles.

(Clockwise)

(Left) The Price of Perfection (AKA: Shut The Buck Up, Rhymey!)

As the war turns against United Equestria, their peerless strengths now becoming their undoing, Artie Bristles takes issue with many of the choices made by the leadership of Grand Ruler Celesto, Lightning Dawn and Rhymey Ward. Never listened to and finding himself far more distant to his teammates than he thought, especially as they start dying, he becomes disillusioned with Starfleet. As Rhymey becomes more caustic, insulting and threatening the Bearers of Harmony that Artie comes to admire, the Warrior of Art decides to make his displeasure towards the poet known in more ways than one.

(Top-Left) A Different King of Teacher

Drowning his sorrows in milkshakes and smoothies at Sugarcube Corner, who should Artie Bristles encounter but the unshakeably chirpy and unfailingly optimistic Pinkie Pie. Fast becoming fascinated with how brightly she’s able to make things seem, realisation hits Artie like sunlight. Deciding to learn with her, his mind opened to her more unorthodox, spontaneous way of defending oneself, he realises just how much he and Starfleet have gotten wrong these past years.

(Top) More Than Just A Warrior

Now possessed a very different kind of strength, Artie Bristles starts putting his skills to the test, fighting not as a subordinate but as an individual. The first among Starfleet to actually achieve much in the war, he starts to outshine even Lightning Dawn. When faced with the sinister Cyclopsis, Sombra’s lieutenant who cuts down two rookies of Starfleet with ease, Artie defies orders to wait and attacks Cyclopsis with all he has, destroying his opponent in a blaze of colour and light.

(Top-Right) Muse

Pinkie’s way of teaching astounds Artie. She points out mundane, almost obvious ideas and demands Artie not ask ‘why’ but ‘why not’. New ways of fighting, travelling, investigating and many other things are demonstrated to the former Starfleet warrior. And for the first time, he knows why he’s doing the right thing. Not to demonstrate Starfleet’s superiority or to cleanse Equestria of evil but simply because it makes him happy and he’d others to be happy, however hard that might be.

(Right) An Artist’s Tears

At Manehattan, Conquest appears in person to lead the onslaught. Artie and Pinkie fight side by side, the Bearer of Laughter being the first to actually cause Conquest pain, something he doesn’t take lightly. Taking the savage fiery blow meant for Pinkie, Artie lies on the brink of death. As Pinkie clutches to him, tearfully begging him not to go, Artie brushes away her tears and asks that she never lose her smile.

Waking up later, he is able to make his recovery, Starfleet’s remaining members saved through his efforts. Lightning Dawn, awed by his courage, defies Grand Ruler’s command in removing Artie from Starfleet and instead hands in his own badge, beginning their relationship anew not as commander and subordinate but as one friend to another as they always should have been.

(Bottom-Right) In The Pink

To say Pinkie Pie is an exuberant character would be an understatement but it is this that Artie likes about her a great deal. How she is able to live life to the fullest, ready and excited for whatever comes her way and pulling everypony else through difficult times without asking for anything is something Artie Bristles finds magnificent to behold.

That being said, her tendency to bathe outside in the nude after frequent food fights is something he will have to get used to.

(Bottom) Welcome To The Family

As Artie and Pinkie’s relationship blossoms, the bubbly pink pony can’t wait to show him to her family. To Artie’s discomfort they aren’t quite as open as Pinkie about the prospect.

But after some deliberation, they conclude that Pinkie is a very good influence on the former-Starfleet member and give him their blessings…and their warning of what will happen if he breaks her heart.

(Bottom-Left) Sweet, Sweet Double-Entendre

At Equestria’s beach party, the young artist finds a quiet spot in the shade to sketch the happy scene while his girlfriend takes a short break between the festivities to indulge her sweet tooth.

The image gives Artie…rather broad ideas.

Cyclopsis’s armour is based off Cyclopsis/Dora Talos from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger

The other one he’s fighting is just some fallen Unicornicopian I gave a metal jaw to.

Call him Underbiter maybe? Lockjaw? Molar Munch?

Riding the Paintbrush is meant to be based off Sun Wukong. I’m surprised no-one has come up with it.